ACCRA, Ghana — July 2026 — Egypt asserted its dominance while Uganda, Nigeria, Tunisia, Algeria and host nation Ghana also claimed glory as the ITTF Africa Youth Championships and Africa Cup wrapped up in Accra, showcasing the future of African table tennis.
The week-long tournament, held alongside the ITTF Hopes Week & Challenge Africa 2026, brought together the continent’s best U15 and U19 players, with thrilling finals, breakout performances, and a historic mixed doubles win for Ghana.
The Pharaohs of Egypt were the story of the championships, topping both team and individual events. Egypt swept all three girls’ team titles and both boys’ team titles at U15 level:
- U15 Girls Team: Zaki Malak, Nada Elbadawy, Darin Abdesalam & Mahgoub Daleela
- U15 Boys Team: Ahmed Elsabbagh, Asser Sameh, Hussein Eyad & Kosba Mohammed
- U19 Girls Team: Habiba Ebasoumy, Yara Elbadawy, Malak Abdelshakour & Farida Thabet
Individual success followed. Asser Sameh was the standout, completing a double by winning U15 Boys Singles at both the Youth Championships and the ITTF Africa Youth Cup. Habiba Elbasoumy also took the U19 Girls Singles Cup title to add to her team gold.
Egypt also won U19 Mixed Doubles through Abdelmalik Elsayed & Thabet Farida, plus U15 Girls Doubles and U19 Girls Doubles.
Nigeria ensured West Africa was on the board with key victories. The U19 Boys Team of Atunwon Quadri, Matthew Kuti, Sultan Agunbiade & Matthew Fabunmi took team gold, while Kuti backed it up by winning U19 Boys Singles at the Africa Cup. Nigeria also won U15 Boys Doubles via Joseph Marvelous & Joseph Victor.
North Africa shared the rest of the titles. Tunisia’s Essid Wassim was a double champion, winning U19 Boys Singles and partnering Aidle Youssef to take U19 Boys Doubles. Elaa Saidi added U15 Girls Singles Cup gold for Tunisia. Algeria’s Tania Morice broke the Egypt stranglehold to claim U19 Girls Singles at the Championships.
The home crowd had something to cheer about when Ghana’s Israel Aklie & Joanita Borteye won U15 Mixed Doubles, giving the hosts their only gold of the tournament and a memorable moment in Accra.
Uganda also had a fantastic week. Joseph Sebatindira won the Boys U12 title at ITTF Hopes Challenge Africa, while Patience Anyango stunned the field to win U15 Girls Singles at the Youth Championships. Egypt’s Zeina Ayma Mohammed won the Girls U12 Hopes title.
With over 20 nations represented, Accra 2026 highlighted the depth growing across the continent. Egypt’s dominance shows the strength of their development system, but wins for Uganda, Nigeria, Tunisia, Algeria and Ghana prove the gap is closing fast.
For many of these teenagers, Accra was a first taste of international competition. For others like Asser Sameh and Matthew Kuti, it was confirmation that they are ready to carry African table tennis onto the world stage.
The ITTF Africa Youth Championships and Africa Cup now conclude, but the performances in Accra suggest African youth table tennis is entering its most exciting era yet.
Full List of Winners — ITTF Africa Youth Championships & Cup, Accra 2026
ITTF Hopes Week & Challenge Africa 2026 (U12)
Boys: Joseph Sebatindira
Girls: Zeina Ayma Mohammed
ITTF Africa Youth Championships
U15 Boys Team: Egypt
U15 Girls Team: Egypt
U19 Boys Team: Nigeria
U19 Girls Team: Egypt
U15 Boys Singles: Asser Sameh
U15 Girls Singles: Patience Anyango
U19 Boys Singles: Essid Wassim
U19 Girls Singles: Tania Morice
U15 Boys Doubles: Joseph Marvelous & Joseph Victor
U15 Girls Doubles: Abdelshakour Joumana & Mahgoub Daleela
U19 Boys Doubles: Essid Wassim & Aidle Youssef
U19 Girls Doubles: Elbadawy Yara & Elbasoumy Habiba
U15 Mixed Doubles: Israel Aklie & Joanita Borteye
U19 Mixed Doubles: Abdelmalik Elsayed & Thabet Farida
ITTF Africa Youth Cup;
U15 Boys Singles: Asser Sameh
U15 Girls Singles: Elaa Saidi
U19 Boys Singles: Matthew Kuti
U19 Girls Singles: Habiba Elbasoumy
